Golf club

ABSTRACT

A golf club with improved peripheral visibility is provided. The golf club can comprise a club head, a shaft, and a grip. The club head can comprise a crown portion, a sole portion, and a face portion. The crown portion, shaft, and grip can all have substantially the same hue, shade, and saturation.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/389,177, filed on Oct. 1, 2010, which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to improved golf clubs, specifically to golfclubs that utilize a single color scheme along particular components ofthe club.

BACKGROUND

Golf clubs generally comprise a club head, a shaft, and a grip. Clubheads on drivers generally comprise a crown portion, a sole portion, anda face portion. Club heads often incorporate designs, logos, and/or avariety of colors and color schemes on the club head that signify themanufacturer, the designer, and/or add aesthetic appeal to the clubhead. For example, driver club heads often incorporate colored markings,etchings, and/or specific insignia that identifies one company's driverfrom another. Many of these designs, logos, and/or color schemes arelocated along the crown portion of the club head. Many of these designs,logos, and/or color schemes are also located along the club shaft and/orgrip. Many of these designs, logos, and/or color schemes diminish thevisibility of a club as it moves through a player's peripheral vision,particularly against a natural, variegated background. Accordingly, golfclubs themselves are preventing golfers from knowing the full path of aswing they make by breaking up a visual trace of the swing at theperipheries of the visual field. Thus, golfers lack important feedbackto aid them in improving their swing over time.

SUMMARY

An aspect of at least one of the embodiments disclosed herein includesthe realization that golf club drivers with a variety of designs, logos,and/or color schemes along the crown, shaft, and/or grip can make itdifficult to see and track the club during a swinging motion, and canthus make it difficult for a golfer to receive visual feedback during aswing. In particular, use of different colors on the crown, shaft,and/or grip can consciously and/or subconsciously affect the user'sswing by causing visual distractions and thus making it difficult tovisualize the club throughout the swing. It would be advantageous tohave a golf club that is designed with a color scheme that provides thegolfer with generally continuous visual feedback during a swing and/orfacilitates a more fluid, consistent, and repeatable swing.

Thus, in accordance with an embodiment, a golf club can comprise a clubhead comprising a crown portion, a sole portion, and a face portion, ashaft attached to the club head, and a grip attached to or integrallyformed with the shaft, wherein the crown portion, shaft, and grip areall substantially the same color.

In some embodiments, there may also be an advantage to having a frontface and/or back of the club the same color as the crown, shaft, andgrip.

In some embodiments, there may also be an advantage to having an iron(as opposed to a wood) that includes a top line, shaft, and grip all thesame color (e.g. the exact same shade of color or a variety ofsubstantially similar shades of the same color). Similarly, there may bean advantage to having an iron that includes a front face and/or backthe same color as the top line, shaft, and grip.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a shaft sleeve for aninterchangeable system, wherein the shaft sleeve is substantially thesame color as the crown portion, shaft, and grip. In some embodiments,the invention provides a golf club comprising a photochromic portion,wherein the photochromic portion is one hue under a first lightcondition and reversibly exhibits a second hue under a second lightcondition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present embodiments willbecome more apparent upon reading the following detailed description andwith reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a bottom, heel side perspective view of a golf club accordingto one embodiments; the drawing is lined for color, illustrating a whitegrip, white shaft, and white club head crown;

FIG. 2 is a heel side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a white club grip, white shaft, and white club head crown;

FIG. 3 is a toe side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a white club grip, white shaft, and white club head crown;

FIG. 4 is a back side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a white club grip, white shaft, and white club head crown;

FIG. 5 is a top side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a white club grip, white shaft, and white club head crown;

FIG. 6 is a bottom side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a white club grip, white shaft, and white club head crown;

FIG. 7 is a front side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a white club grip, white shaft, and white club head crown;

FIG. 8 is a bottom, heel side perspective view of a golf club accordingto another embodiment; the drawing is lined for color, illustrating ablack club grip, black shaft, and black club head crown;

FIG. 9 is a heel side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a black club grip, black shaft, and black club head crown;

FIG. 10 is a toe side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a black club grip, black shaft, and black club head crown;

FIG. 11 is a back side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a black club grip, black shaft, and black club head crown;

FIG. 12 is a top side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a black club grip, black shaft, and black club head crown;

FIG. 13 is a bottom side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a black club grip, black shaft, and black club head crown;and

FIG. 14 is a front side view thereof; the drawing is lined for color,illustrating a black club grip, black shaft, and black club head crown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An improved golf club 10 is disclosed herein. The embodiments disclosedherein are described in the context of a driver because the embodimentsdisclosed herein have particular utility in this context. However, theembodiments and inventions herein can also be applied to other types ofgolf clubs, including but not limited to fairway woods, putters, irons,and/or hybrids.

With reference to FIGS. 1-14, the golf club 10 can comprise a club head12. The club head 12 can be divided generally into a crown or crownportion 14, a sole or sole portion 16, and a face or face portion 18. Insome embodiments the crown portion 14 can be connected to and/orintegrally formed with the sole portion 16 and/or face portion 18.

In some embodiments the sole portion 16 can be connected to and/orintegrally formed with the crown portion 14 and/or face portion 18.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-14, the golf club 10 can comprise ashaft 20 and a grip 22. The shaft 20 can, for example extend from theclub head 12 towards the grip 22.

In some embodiments, the shaft can comprise an elongated piece of metal,or other suitable material, that extends at a selected angle from theclub head 12. The shaft 20 can be integrally formed with and/or attachedto the club head 12.

The grip 22 can comprise, for example, any part of the golf club 10 thatis configured to be gripped by the golfer prior to and/or during a golfclub swing. In some embodiments, the grip 22 can comprise an extensionof the shaft 20, and/or can be attached to or integrally formed with theshaft 20.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-14, in a preferred arrangement, theentire exposed crown portion 14, exposed shaft portion 20, and exposedgrip portion 22 can be substantially a single, solid shade of color, theterm “exposed” referring generally to that part of the club that isvisible to a golfer. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, theentire crown portion 14, shaft portion, 20, and grip portion 22 can be atrue white, or as illustrated in FIGS. 8-14, the entire crown portion14, shaft portion 20, and grip portion 22 can be a true black. Othercolors and/or shades of colors are also possible. For example, in someembodiments, the crown portion 14, shaft portion 20, and grip portion 22can be a single shade of egg shell white, stark white, dark gray, ordeep black. In some embodiments, the crown portion 14, shaft portion 20,and grip portion 22 can be a single shade of red, blue, orange, or othercolor or shade of color.

For purposes of this application, the term “hue” refers to the propertyof colors by which they can be perceived as ranging from red throughyellow, green, and blue, as determined by the dominant wavelength of thelight. For purposes of this application, to the extent that anything ispure white, or pure white and shades of gray, pure black, or pure blackand shades of gray, it is considered to be a hue.

For purposes of this application, the term “shade” refers to theaddition of black.

For purposes of this application, the term “saturation” refers to theaddition of white.

In some embodiments, the golf club 10 can comprise one component that issubstantially a first shade of color, and another component that issubstantially another shade of the same color. For example, in someembodiments, the golf club 10 can comprise a crown portion 14 that isegg shell white, and a shaft 20 and grip 22 that are true white. In someembodiments, the golf club 10 can comprise a crown portion 14 that istrue black, and a shaft 20 and grip 22 that are dark gray. In someembodiments the golf club 10 can comprise a crown portion 14 that isdark red, and a shaft 20 and grip 22 that are pink. Other variations andcolors are also possible.

In some embodiments, the face portion 18 can have substantially the sameshade of color as the crown portion 14, shaft 20, and grip 22. Forexample, in some embodiments the crown portion 14, face portion 18,shaft 20, and grip 22 can all be a single shade of white.

In some embodiments, the golf club 10 can further comprise a ferrule 24.The ferrule 24 can comprise, for example, any part of the golf club 10that connects the shaft 20 to the club head 12. In some embodiments theferrule 24 can have substantially the same or similar shade of color asthe crown portion 14, face portion 18, shaft 20, and/or grip 22.

For purposes of this application, the term “gloss” refers to theproperty of surfaces by which they can be perceived as reflecting light.Examples of gloss include flat, matte, satin, and glossy.

In some embodiments, the golf club 10 can comprise one component with asurface having substantially a first gloss, and another component havinga surface having substantially a second gloss. In some embodiments thecrown portion 14, shaft 20, grip 22, and/or any other component that isshaded, can include a level of gloss. The level of gloss can include,for example, anything from flat color to high shine.

In some embodiments, the golf club 10 can have substantially one glosson any surface or every surface, for instance, wherein the one gloss isselected from the list consisting of flat, matte, satin, gloss, highgloss, and lustrous. A gloss can be chosen to optimize the appearance ofgolf club 10, a durability of a surface, for example to reflect light,to modulate fading over time, or to improve ease of cleaning andmaintenance. In certain embodiments, a finish of a particular gloss ischosen to suit an environmental condition, for example, for a golf club10 intended to be used near a sea coast near salt spray.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-14, in a preferred arrangement, theentire exposed crown portion 14, exposed shaft portion 20, and exposedgrip portion 22 can be substantially a single, solid shade of color, theterm “exposed” referring generally to that part of the club that isvisible to a golfer. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, theentire crown portion 14, shaft portion, 20, and grip portion 22 can be atrue white, or as illustrated in FIGS. 8-14, the entire crown portion14, shaft portion 20, and grip portion 22 can be a true black. Othercolors and/or shades of colors are also possible. For example, in someembodiments, the crown portion 14, shaft portion 20, and grip portion 22can be a single shade of egg shell white, stark white, dark gray, ordeep black. In some embodiments, the crown portion 14, shaft portion 20,and grip portion 22 can be a single shade of red, blue, orange, or othercolor or shade of color.

While the embodiments described above are described generally in thecontext of a crown portion 14, shaft portion 20, and grip portion 22that are solidly colored in one or more shades of the same color withoutany markings, etchings, insignia, etc., in some embodiments the crownportion 14, shaft portion, and/or grip portion 22 can include markings,etchings, insignia, etc. that are also shaded. Such markings, etchings,insignia, etc. can be shaded in the same or similar fashion to the restof the crown portion 14, shaft portion 20, and grip portion 22. Forexample, the crown portion 14 can be shaded substantially entirely in aparticular shade of white, and can include an etching and/or markingalong its surface that is also shaded in a similar or substantiallyidentical shade of white. In some embodiments, markings can be shaded anentirely different color than the rest of the component. For example, insome embodiments the crown portion 14 can be substantially white, andcan include a small dark black marking (e.g. logo or alignment marking).Similarly, in some embodiments the shaft portion 20 and/or grip portion22 can be substantially white but include a small dark black marking(e.g. logo or alignment marking). In some embodiments the crown portion14, shaft portion, and/or grip portion 22 can include at least onedirectional graphic that is visible only from a desired angle whilebeing invisible from an undesired angle, as described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/556,608, filed Sep. 10, 2009, and published asU.S. Pub. No. 2011/0059808 on Mar. 10, 2011, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a golf club havinginterchangeable parts. For example, in certain embodiments, theinvention provides a golf club having an interchangeable shaft systemincluding a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head, and a fastener. In someembodiments, the shaft sleeve is configured to be coupled to an end of ashaft and received in a hosel included in the club head. In someembodiments, the invention includes an interchangeable shaft systemsubstantially as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,766, issued on Sep. 7,2010, from U.S. application Ser. No. 12/023,380, filed Jan. 31, 2008,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. It will beappreciated by one having skill in the art that the training benefitssupplied by a monochrome golf club or a monochrome gold club including amarking will have further benefits when optionally including aninterchangeable system.

A primary goal, and advantage, of having a crown portion 14, shaftportion 20, and/or grip portion 22 that are all substantially the samecolor, is to facilitate continuous feedback to a golfer during the golfswing. Typical golf clubs include a variety of colors and markings (e.g.a mixture of red, blue, etc.). As soon as the typical golf club leavesthe direct line of sight of the golfer's eyes and enters the golfer'speripheral vision (e.g. during a backswing), the mixture of colors onthe club, and particularly the mixture of colors of the crown portion14, the shaft 20, and the grip 22, can generally become lost to agolfer, and perception of the golf club becomes reduced.

As a typical golf club moves from a direct line of sight into theperipheral vision through a backswing, the ability to perceive color canbecome limited. As the typical golf club swings forward and back intothe golfer's direct line of sight, the variety of colors and/or markingson the crown portion, shaft, and/or grip can create streaks of lightthat suddenly appear in the golfer's eyes and are picked up by conecells in the golfer's eye.

A golfer's perception and view of a golf club during a swing can beinstrumental in executing and repeating a correct golf swing. Thus, itcan be advantageous to have a golf club that does not distract thegolfer through the forward swing, and/or allows the golfer to receivegenerally continuous feedback of the club position and movement. Thegolf club 10 described above, with its generally single color design,can reduce color distraction and facilitate generally continuousfeedback of the golf club 10 throughout the swing. This continuousvisual feedback and perception can aid the golfer in recognizing his orher swing patterns and characteristics.

Additionally, in some embodiments the face portion 18 of golf club 10can include a small marker or some other visual cue, such that during aforward swing, and prior to and/or during impact, the golfer's eyes canpick up on the visual cue on the face portion 18 without the visual cuecreating streaks of color or distraction. Such a visual cue cancomprise, for example, a small line, marking, etc.

In some embodiments, a visual cue—including, for example, a monochromegolf club or a monochrome golf club including a small marker—supplies avaluable training aid. In certain embodiments, the visual cue enhances avisibility of a club as it moves through a player's peripheral vision,thereby delivering to the golfer information about the full path of aswing they make. In some embodiments, a monochrome golf club, or amonochrome golf club with a marker, is a training aid for its visibilityto the golfer or for its visibility to a third party. For example, whenan instructor observes a student swing the club, the arcuate morphologyof the trace of the visual cue supplies valuable information to theinstructor regarding the student's swing. In some embodiments, themonochrome surface of golf club 10 functions as a tracer. For example, asolid white club, or a club of a color chosen with regards tosurrounding environmental conditions, can create the image of a visualtrail, making the path of the swing visible to the naked eye of theplayer or an observer. Accordingly, a monochrome club or a substantiallymonochrome club including a contrasting marker can supply a tracer clubas a valuable evaluation aid.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-14, in certain embodiments, theentire exposed crown portion 14, exposed shaft portion 20, and exposedgrip portion 22 can substantially comprise a photochromic material. Theterm “photochromic” generally refers to a reversible change of colorunder exposure to light, for example by a chromene or a silver halidesalt. In some embodiments, the golf club 10 can comprise one componentthat includes a photochromic portion, and another component that doesnot. For example, in some embodiments, the golf club 10 can comprise acrown portion 14 that darkens when exposed to light, thereby ensuringthat when the club head is at address or in play, no distracting logosor similar visual elements are visible.

In some embodiments, a portion of a golf club includes a photochromicmaterial in a configuration that causes a sight line or alignment aidwhich reversibly appears, for example, when the club is exposed tosunlight at address. In certain embodiments, a portion of a golf clubincludes a photochromic indicia or element on a surface of anycomponent, for example, including without limitation, a shaft, hosel,sleeve, or iron topline.

In some embodiments, a photochromic material is used to provide a golfclub which is substantially monochrome when in diminished light, butwhich reversibly reveals a pattern or indicia under brighter light. Insome embodiments, an indicia may include a orientation marker, a logo,an identifying mark or number, or a cosmetic flourish. In someembodiments, the invention supplies a monochrome golf club whichreversibly reveals an indicia under select lighting conditions byincluding a photochromic portion of a surface such that the club appearssubstantially monochrome under a first light condition, but reversiblyreveals a marker or indicia under a second light condition.

Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present inventions extend beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof.

In addition, while several variations of the inventions have been shownand described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scopeof these inventions, will be readily apparent to those of skill in theart based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that variouscombinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects ofthe embodiments can be made and still fall within the scope of theinventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects ofthe disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for oneanother in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions.Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the presentinventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particulardisclosed embodiments described above.

1. A golf club comprising: a club head comprising a crown portion, asole portion, and a face portion; a shaft attached to the club head; anda grip attached to or integrally formed with the shaft; wherein anexposed portion of the crown, an exposed portion of the shaft, and anexposed portion of the grip are all substantially the same hue.
 2. Thegolf club of claim 1, wherein an exposed portion of the crown, anexposed portion of the shaft, and an exposed portion of the grip are allsubstantially the same hue and shade.
 3. The golf club of claim 1,wherein an exposed portion of the crown, an exposed portion of theshaft, and an exposed portion of the grip are all substantially the samehue and saturation.
 4. The golf club of claim 1, wherein an exposedportion of the crown, an exposed portion of the shaft, and an exposedportion of the grip are all substantially the same hue, shade, andsaturation.
 5. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising a shaftsleeve for an interchangeable system, wherein the shaft sleeve issubstantially the same hue as the exposed portion of the crown.
 6. Thegolf club of claim 1, further comprising a photochromic portion, whereinthe photochromic portion is substantially the same hue as the exposedportion of the shaft under a first light condition and reversiblyexhibits a second hue under a second light condition.
 7. A golf clubcomprising: a club head comprising a crown portion, a sole portion, anda face portion; a ferrule connecting a shaft to the club head; and agrip attached to or integrally formed with the shaft; wherein an exposedportion of the crown, an exposed portion of the ferrule, an exposedportion of the shaft, and an exposed portion of the grip are allsubstantially the same hue.
 8. The golf club of claim 7, wherein theexposed portion of the crown, the exposed portion of the ferrule, theexposed portion of the shaft, and the exposed portion of the grip areall substantially the same hue and shade.
 9. The golf club of claim 7,wherein the exposed portion of the crown, the exposed portion of theferrule, the exposed portion of the shaft, and the exposed portion ofthe grip are all substantially the same hue and saturation.
 10. The golfclub of claim 7, wherein the exposed portion of the crown, the exposedportion of the ferrule, the exposed portion of the shaft, and theexposed portion of the grip are all substantially the same hue, shade,and saturation.
 11. The golf club of claim 7, further comprising a shaftsleeve for an interchangeable system, wherein the shaft sleeve issubstantially the same hue as the exposed portion of the crown.
 12. Thegolf club of claim 7, further comprising a photochromic portion, whereinthe photochromic portion is substantially the same hue as the exposedportion of the shaft under a first light condition and reversiblyexhibits a second hue under a second light condition.
 13. A golf clubcomprising: a shaft connected to a grip and a club head, the club headcomprising a crown, a sole, and a face, wherein an entire exposed crownportion, an entire exposed shaft portion, and an entire exposed gripportion are substantially a single, solid shade of color.
 14. The golfclub of claim 13, wherein the entire exposed crown portion, the entireexposed shaft portion, and the entire exposed grip portion are allsubstantially the same hue and shade.
 15. The golf club of claim 13,wherein the entire exposed crown portion, the entire exposed shaftportion, and the entire exposed grip portion are all substantially thesame hue and saturation.
 16. The golf club of claim 13, wherein theentire exposed crown portion, the entire exposed shaft portion, and theentire exposed grip portion are all substantially the same hue, shade,and saturation.
 17. The golf club of claim 13, further comprising ashaft sleeve for an interchangeable system, wherein the shaft sleeve issubstantially the same hue as the entire exposed crown portion.
 18. Thegolf club of claim 13, further comprising a photochromic portion,wherein the photochromic portion is substantially the same hue as theentire exposed shaft portion under a first light condition andreversibly exhibits a second hue under a second light condition.